In Appreciation for Dr. Douglas Kelly

May 10, 2016

With deep appreciation for his labors in training ministers of the gospel, for his many years of faithful teaching and preaching, and for his invaluable commitments to the advancement of Reformed theology in the world today, Reformed Theological Seminary is thankful for the ministry of Dr. Douglas Kelly as he retires from his position as the Richard Jordan Professor of Theology, effective May 31, 2016.

Dr. Kelly began teaching Systematic Theology at RTS in 1983 at the Jackson campus, and has taught at the Charlotte campus since 1991. In addition to teaching all the core theology courses, Dr. Kelly has taught electives on a wide range of subjects such as Puritan Theology, Scottish Theology, Medieval Theology, and the Doctrine of the Trinity.

In addition to his faculty duties, Dr. Kelly has travelled extensively, both nationally and internationally, teaching and preaching the Word of God. He has also published numerous books that have both blessed the church and enriched the academy. Examples include Preachers with Power (1993), If God Already Knows Why Pray? (1995), Creation and Change (2004), Systematic Theology Vol 1: The God Who Is: Holy Trinity (2009), and Systematic Theology Vol 2: The Beauty of Christ: A Trinitarian Vision (2014). And his best-selling book is still, Carolina Scots: An Historical and Genealogical Study of Over 100 years of Emigration (1998).

Dr. Kelly serves as President of Scottish Heritage USA, Chaplain of the Grandfather Mountain Scottish Highland Games, Trustee of Highland Theological College (in Scotland), and serves on numerous boards of organizations around the country. He was also enlisted to serve on the Jurisprudence project of The Christian Legal Society and serves on the Credentials Committee of Central Carolina Presbytery.

It is difficult to find words to express what Doug Kelly has meant to Reformed Theological Seminary. He is one of our most beloved professors, one of our brightest minds, and of one our finest preachers. While he will be dearly missed, we are grateful that he can now focus his time on completing volumes three and four of his systematic theology series. Those volumes will be a lasting legacy for both the church and the academy.